Care guide
Lovebird Care Guide: Diet, Housing and Breeding
Avilumen editorial team ·
Lovebirds (Agapornis) are small, compact and very active African parrots. There are nine species; the most common in captivity are the peach-faced lovebird (roseicollis), Fischer's lovebird and the masked lovebird (personatus). They are bold, curious and have far more personality than their size suggests.
At a glance
- Size
- 13–17 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years, sometimes up to 20
- Noise level
- Moderate: frequent high-pitched chirping
- Experience
- Beginner to intermediate
- Space
- Cage at least 80 cm long
Approximate values: they vary by species and individual bird.
Diet
Small-parrot pellets or a lovebird seed mix as the base, with fresh vegetables every day, some fruit and sprouted seeds. Lovebirds are very active and eat a lot for their size.
During breeding, add egg food and extra calcium.
- Never feed avocado, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, salt, onion or garlic.
- Fresh branches from untreated fruit trees for chewing.
- A shallow bath several times a week: they love it.
Housing
A pair needs a cage of at least 80 × 40 × 50 cm, with bar spacing no wider than 1.2 cm. Lovebirds are territorial: don't house them with other species in the same cage, because they can injure birds larger than themselves.
Hens shred paper and leaves to build a nest even without a mate; this is normal.
Single or in pairs?
Despite the name, a lovebird won't die of loneliness if kept alone. A single bird can be very tame if it gets daily attention; a bonded pair is more independent and less hand-tame, but keeps itself entertained when you're away. What doesn't work is a single bird with no attention.
Health
Lovebirds are susceptible to psittacine beak and feather disease and polyomavirus, so it's wise to test any new bird and quarantine it for 30 days. Egg binding in hens is an emergency: a swollen hen, straining and sitting on the cage floor.
Breeding and mutations
Males and females look alike; the only reliable way to sex them is a DNA test from a feather or a drop of blood. They breed in nest boxes: 3 to 6 eggs and about 23 days of incubation.
Selective breeding has produced many color mutations (lutino, blue, violet, opaline). Crossing different lovebird species produces hybrids, which responsible breeders avoid.
Legal status
The peach-faced lovebird is exempt from CITES; the other species are listed in Appendix II. Always buy from breeders who provide closed leg bands and proof of origin.
This guide is for information only and does not replace advice from an avian vet. Before getting a bird, check the law in your country and ask for CITES paperwork. This site does not sell or broker live animals.
Frequently asked questions
- Do lovebirds need to live in pairs?
- No, it isn't required. A single lovebird can live well if it gets daily attention from its owner. Lovebirds kept in pairs are more independent and entertain each other, but they are usually less tame with people.
- How long do lovebirds live?
- A lovebird usually lives 10 to 15 years, and some lovebirds reach 20 with good care.
- How can you tell if a lovebird is male or female?
- In most lovebird species, males and females look the same on the outside. The reliable way to sex a lovebird is a DNA test done from a feather or a drop of blood.
- What do lovebirds eat?
- Lovebirds eat pellets or a lovebird seed mix as the base of their diet, fresh vegetables every day, some fruit and sprouted seeds. During breeding season, lovebirds need egg food and extra calcium.
